Two weeks ago I made a reel of Levi playing in the backyard using his imagination. It lasts 43 seconds. 40% of those who see my reel on social media will watch longer than 15 seconds. It’s possible people in my own family haven’t watched till the end.

A feeling and thought that often arises in a world of  “content on demand” is I’ve seen enough. I’ve heard enough. And we assume the end is not worth the cost of our attention and…we miss the cutest part! It’s at the end that you see Levi turn, lean his head on his toy jeep, and smile big. He’s not performing. He’s not doing anything spectacular. He just pauses, rests, and is purely content — and if you didn’t stay long enough, you missed it completely.

That’s a picture of gratitude itself. Gratitude isn’t (only or usually) found in the highlight, the big moment, the dramatic event. It’s found when you slow down long enough to catch the quiet, unguarded, unhurried moment — the smile at the end.

Dear Elim Grace, remember this: Thanksgiving isn’t for the people who show up. It’s for the people who stay. Levi doesn’t know I’m watching him. The reward is mine as a father, if I stay with him long enough (and I almost didn’t).

You know who stays with you long enough and forever? Your Good and Heavenly Father:

• He clothes the lilies of the field and feeds the birds of the air

• He causes the rains to fall on the earth and the winds to blow wherever He wishes.

• He numbers your days and knows your thoughts.

• He counts the hairs on your head and knows your desires.

• He counts your tears and understands your groanings.

• He knows the plans He has for you and He knows your dreams.

• He knows your name and catches every moment of your life.

• And He invites you to step into that same unhurried attentiveness towards Him and His faithfulness towards you. To “taste and see” that the Lord is good. “Taste and see” that His love and mercy follow you all the days of your life. “Taste and see” that the steadfast love of the Lord NEVER ceases.

43 seconds. It sounds embarrassingly short. That’s the point. If we can’t give 43 seconds to a child playing in a yard, what does that say about our capacity to linger in gratitude?

But what if 43 seconds becomes a snapshot of your life? A snapshot of a lifetime lived in remembrance and in gratitude. It’s not a long time, but it goes a long way.

The challenge — give 43 seconds a day. Can you give 43 seconds a day to being present and attentive? To remembering the grace of the Lord Jesus? To giving thanks? To verbalizing a prayer? To singing a song of worship? To encouraging someone? To saying thank you?

Let’s not only be a people who show up. Let’s also be a people who stay.